Turnstile



May 19, 1942.

V s. MADSEN TURNSTILE Filed Jun 6. 1939 3 She ets-Sheet l l I I l 7- r-53521 51----AK--.

r 14- AZ 12 120 ATTORNEY -INVENTOR Sol-en Mizds May 19, 1942; 4 s, AngEN 2,283,681

TURNSTILE Filed June 6, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 May, 19

S. MADSEN TURNSTILE Filed June 6,. 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Saran M ATTORNEY Patente d May 19, 1942 STTES PATENT OFFICE TURNSTILE Application June 6, 1939, Serial No. 277,614

This invention relates to improvements in 7 Claims.

turnstiles.

In turnstiles of the all-mechanical type heretofore employed, mechanism operable by the movement of the turnstile has been employed to engage and move in one direction a coin for the purpose of releasing the arms for rotation and/or to move in one direction the operating member of a coin-counter or register, while a heavy spring or springs have been relied upon to move such mechanism in the opposite direction in order to reset the same for a succeeding operation. The use of such a spring or springs for the purposes indicated is objectionable because of frequent failures thereof and because the movement efiected thereby is not positive.

Also, in turnstiles of said type heretofore employed, a separate braking or check device was usually employed at the end only of the movement of the arms while a heavy spring and heavy lever used for moving the coin-counter and release were relied upon to assist in driving the arms after initially-retarding the starting movement by the user. This resulted in considerable noise at the instant of impact of the arm with the braking or check device as well as making necessary a heavy spring and heavy lever for the coinrelease and counter-actuating mechanism.

One of the objects of this invention is to eliminate the above objections or defects by providing, in a turnstile, coin-release mechanism and counter-actuating mechanism which will be positively operated in both directions by the movement of the turnstile whereby the use of springs for the purpose of resetting either the coin-carrying or moving member or the counteractuating member may be eliminated and a positive actuation of the said members in both directions will be accomplished.

Another object of my invention is to utilize, in a coin-controlled turnstile, a mechanism which will be positively moved in opposite directions by the turnstile during each operative movement thereof.

Another object of my invention is to. provide coin-engaging means whereby during a part of each operative movement of the stile an inserted coin will be moved to operate unlocking mechanism to unlock the turnstile and will then be carried to deposit position and thereafter during a later part of said operative movement said coin-engaging means will be positively reset in its initial position for another engagement and actuation by a coin.

Still another object of my invention is to utilize a combined operating and resetting mech anism of the type specified for the purpose of actuating a counter or register andimmediately resetting such register for the next succeeding operation, all without the use of springs.

Still another object of my inventionis to utilize a driving-and-braking mechanism independent of the coin-release and register-actuating mechanism; to retain the turnstile arms continuously under the control of this independent driving and braking mechanism at all times during its movement, and also toprovide means for adjusting the degree of retardation and the speed of movement of the arms.

Still another object of my invention is, in a turnstile of the character specified, to provide a cam member rotatable with the turnstile arm and having tracks adapted, to cooperate with a simple, standard, movement-checking member having a movement-checking arm controlled by said arms and thus to retard therotation thereof.

Another object of my invention is so to control and adapt a driving and movement-checking device of conventional type having means for ad-.

justing the retarding or driving pressure to be exerted by said driving and checking member in such manner that the positions in the movement of the turnstile arms at which such pressure will be applied can be fixed, thus enabling the proper pressures to be applied by the driving and checking member on the cam member and retarding and driving tracks thereof so as to positively control the speed of the cam and of the turnstile at all times and positions during the movement thereof. g

With these and other objects in view, the invention comprises the combination of members and arrangement of parts so combined as to coact and co-operate with each other in the performance of the functions and the accomplishment of the results herein contemplated-and comprises in one of its adaptations the species/or preferred form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a fragmentary View in stile embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in sideelevation of a turnstile shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section, partly in elevation, of my turnstile substantially on the plan of a turnline 3-3 of Fig 10, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section showing the rear end of the coin-actuated lockrelease mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary View in plan substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section showing the coin-releasable lock or latch of the turnstile in locked position and the end of the coin- I actuated arm-releasing lever;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary illustrative view in plan of the mechanism for actuating the counter or register;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section on the line 88of Fig. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view in plan showing the coin-actuated lever mechanism for releasing one of the latches carried by the head to permit an operative movement of the turnstile;

Fig. 11 is a section on the line I I-l-I of Fig. 3, showing, in plan, my independent arm-drivingand-retarding mechanism;

Fig. 12 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 11, showing the driving andretarding mechanism in a different position; and

Fig. 13 is a section on the line 3-43 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 14 is a section on line M of Fig. 10.

Referring now to these drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention, l indicates a turnstile having, as shown, a series of four arms 2, mounted on a head 3 which, as more particularly shown in Figs. 1 to 3, is fixedly mounted upon ashaft 4 rotatably mounted in bearing members 5-, 5 supported on brackets 6, 6 within a pedestal I having a base member I suitably secured to the floor and extending rearwardly to provide a support for a moneyenclosing pedestal or casing 8 spaced from the pedestal 1. As illustrated, a housingS is supported at one end on the pedestal casing 8- and is supported intermediate its ends by the bearings for the shaft of the turnstile.

Inthe embodiment of my invention illustrated, the rotatable turnstile head 3 is. provided with a plurality of looking or latching devices equal in number to the number of arms, of the turnstile. The latching device (see particularly Figs. 5 and 6) comprises a dog l pivoted at Iii and having its lower end Hlengageable with a stationary projection II formed on the bearing member but circumferentially spaced therefrom, in the stationary position of the arm, a slight distance to allow an initial free movement of the arm. The upper portion above the pivot It extends above the upper surface of the head 3 and, upon depression, the dog is swung on its pivot and the lower portion is moved out of engagement with the projection II to release the turnstile and permit an operative movement of an arm for a quarter turn and until the next releasing latch l0 comes into position for contact with the looking projection H.

In accordance with my invention, this latch engagement is released by coin-actuated lever mechanism to permit the turnstile to make a quarter turn and in the preferred embodiment of my invention, this lever mechanism is adapted to assume an initial position in which it will be operable by the use of a coin acting as a key to be moved into operative position so as to' release the said latch and thereafter to be moved back again into initial position ready for the insertion of the next succeeding coin, all without movement by the use of springs. As illustrated, I mount within the bottom of the housing 9, a rocking lever I2 pivoted to move in a vertical plane on a pivot l2 and having a depending end I2 adapted to extend through the bottom of the tray and to engage the latch member Ill for the purpose of depressing the same to release the turnstile, as above indicated. In the preferred embodiment of my invention, the end l2 of the lever I2 is forked and provided with a roller 12 which engages the top surface of the latch member H), as more particularly shown in Fig. 6.

The latch-release lever I2 is actuated to depress one end of the latch to release the same by a raising of the end thereof opposite to that which engages the latch. This raising of the opposite end of the lever I2 is accomplished by a coin, such as a nickel l3, which is deposited. in

a coin slot and coin-guiding chute I 4 formed in and extending downwardly in the housing 9 to guide the coin so as to drop into a vertical slot.

the housing 9 and a registering horizontal groove 12* formed in the bottom surface of the lever l2, both of which grooves register with the slot l 2 in the outer end of the lever l2; arms and the latch member are arranged to'have an initial conventional free movement as above indicated prior tothe releasing thereof and this initial free movement is utilized to force acoin I3 seated in the slot ['2 rearwardly beneath the outer end of the lever [2 for the purpose of elevating said end to swing said lever i=2 about its pivot [2 to cause the opposite end of said lever to be depressed intoengagement with the upper end of the latch I-EJ so as to swing such latch about its pivot IE1 and to release the toe thereof from the projection H. To accomplish this initial movement of the coin t3 and alsoa further movement thereof into, a position in which it will drop into the coin deposit chute I4", I mount, on the bottom of the housing 9, a slidable reciproeating member I6 (see particularly Fig. 10). This reciprocating member I6, as shown, is mounted within guide brackets l6 and is movable in opposite directions, one of, such movements being utilized to move the coin to latchreleasing position. and then to coin-depositing position and the opposite movement being utilized to reset the mechanism for a succeeding operation. During the initial movement of member l6 through the free movement by the user of the turnstile arm, the coin is forced beneath the end of the slotted and grooved lever E2 to raise said lever and then further movement inthe same direction forces the coin over into registration with the deposit chute I4 down into which it is pressed by the weight of said lever l2. Both the coin operating movement and the resetting movement of this member it are accomplished positively as distinguished from movement thereof by the use of springs. With this end in view, I employ a coin moving and resetting rocking member l8 (see Fig. 10') pivoted at !-9 on the under surface of the housing. The rocking member [8 has at one of, its edges a plurality of cam surfaces. Thus said member at one side The turnstile of its pivot I9 is provided with an endcam surface I8, and at an intermediate area on the same side of its pivot with a cam surface I8 and at the opposite side of its pivot with a cam surface I8. These cam surfaces are adapted to be successively engaged during each operative movement of the turnstile by a roller R on a post R mounted on and extending upwardly from the head 3. There are four of these rollers in accordance with the number of indexing movements in a complete rotation of the turnstile. Rotation of the turnstile in the clockwise direction in Fig. 10 for a quarter of a turn causes the oncoming roller R, acting on the cam surface I8', to swing the rocking member rearwardly and correspondingly to force rearwardly the sliding member I6. Further movement of the roller past the apex of the cam surface I8 will cause it to engage the cam surface I8 to provide a dwell or time for the coin to drop or be forced into the deposit slot, even though such coin be bent or imperfect, and then; further movement of the roller will engage the cam surface I8 to move the rocking member and the levers connected therewith as hereinafter more particularly specified, back into its initial position.

In the embodiment shown, this rocking member I8 is provided, at one end, with a forked end forming a slot I8 and the member I6 is connected to the rocking member by providing the inner end of the member I6 with a depending portion II; having a roller fitting into the slot I8 When the arm of the turnstile is revolved, the engaging roller R will initially move the member I6 slightly in a free movement until end III of the latch member or dog I engages a projection II and may also move slightly the latch ill, but will not release the same until there is a depression of this lever, as hereinafter stated. If no coin is inserted, the parts will, after the slight initial movement, be returned to initial position by power supplied by the independent driving and retarding mechanism 20. Assuming, however, that a coin has been dropped into the coin chute I4, and is seated in proper position in the slot I2 of the lever I2, this initial free movement will cause a sufficient reciprocation of the reciprocating member It to move a laterally-projecting and. resiliently-mounted coin-engaging member 16 into engagement with the coin.

This resilient mounting of the coin-engaging member Iii is accomplished by loosely connecting the member Ifi on the member I6 and anchoring one end of a spring It at It in said member I6 passing an intermediate part thereof around the member 5 and abutting the opposite end against a fixed post I6 on said coin-engaging member. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, said member Hi is so loosely connected as to have a limited, slight swinging movement about its pivot Ifi on the member I6. The resilient coin-engaging member when moved with the member IS rearwardly will resiliently close any slight gap or gaps that may remain between the coin, the edge thereof and the rear shoulder of slot I2, and then will positively push the coin rearwardly beneath such shoulder and toward the coin deposit chute I4 and the coin will raise the lever I2 upwardly about its pivot I2 to depress the opposite end I2 thereof so as to swing the latch member Ill about its pivot III and thus to release the toe II] from the projection II so as to permit a continuation of the operative movement of the turnstile which, in the embodiment shown, comprises the swinging of an arm thereof about a quarter of a circle. 7 V

The release of the latch ofthe turnstile being accomplished as above stated, the roller R, rolling along and-engaging the cam surface I8 will force the rocking member I8 rearwardly to move the member I6 and its resiliently-mounted coinengaging projecting member I6 further rearwardly so as to carry the coin further beneath the lever I2 and into registration with the deposit chute I I' through which it falls into a coincontainer suitably arranged within the casing 8. This movement of the member I6 is accomplished, as aforesaid, through the movement of the roller along the cam surface I8 to the apex of said cam surface I3 whereupon the member I6 reaches its limit of coin-pushing movement. The roller, in its further rotary movement, provides the aforesaid dwell by engaging the cam-surface I8 and then engages the surface l8 at the opposite side of the pivot I9 to force the rocking member I8 about said pivot and to reset the escapement member I8 into operative position relative to the succeeding roller and also to reset the other connected levers into initial reset positions. It is, however, desirable to limit the rearward movement of the coin beyond the coin deposit chute and I, therefore, mount on the member I6 a separate projecting member It fixed in relation to the member I6. Referr-ing particularly to Figs. 3 and 4, the member I6 is so arranged that at the end of the movement of the slide member I6 to the right, the left edge of member It will register with the right edge of the deposit chute I4.

It will be obvious from the above thatthe member I6 is, by the rocking member I8 under the urging of a roller R, reciprocated in one direction to move the coin into the deposit slot and is subsequently, by the same roller, moved forwardly into a reset position ready for a. similar succeeding operation and that, by the use of this rocking member in connection with the operating levers, I am enabled to avoid the conventional use of a spring or springs for the purpose of resetting such operating levers.-

Another feature of my invention comprisesthe use of power mechanism for controlling the speed of rotation of the turnstile which, as the speed of movement is exceeded, the rotation will be duly retarded.

In accordance with the preferred form of my invention, I also preferably mount adjacent to the head 3 of the rotatable turnstile, an independent rocking member 28 (see Fig. '7) which is pivoted at 28 on the under-surface of the tray. This rocking member 28, at one side of the pivot 28 is provided with an end cam surface 28f and another cam surface 28 at the opposite side of the pivot. These cam surfaces are adapted to be successively engaged during each operative movement of the turnstile by a roller R, four of which, as hereinabove described, are mounted on and extend upwardly from the head 3. A rotation of the turnstile for a quarter of a movement will thus cause a roller R, acting on the cam surface 28*, to swing the member 28 clockwise in Fig. 7. Said member 28 has, at one end, a fork portion 28 which has a connection through an upwardly-extending portion 29' to a, sliding rod 29 mounted within the tray and having projections 30 engaging operating arms 3| of a counter 32. The engagement of the cam surface 28 therefore, will move the sliding rod 29 to actuate the counter 32 for the purpose of giving the same a registering movement. Further movement of the roller R will thereupon engage the cam surface 28- at the opposite side of the pivot 28 and will thus swing the rod 29 in the opposite direction and reset thev counter for another successive operation. It will be seen, therefore, that I have provided means for moving the counter mechanism in opposite. directions for the purpose of producing a count and resetting the same without the use of springs or the like.

7 Also, in accordance with the preferred form of my invention illustrated, I utilize a driving and movement checking device mounted adjacent to the turnstile. This device per se is a conventional door-check mechanism. It is, however, so connected up with my rotating turnstile as to provide retarding and driving pressures at suitable positions in the movement of the turnstile and for. this purpose I combine said driving and checking member with a cam plate having a cam track which will apply the proper pressure at varying positions during movement of the turnstile. A cam plate 21 is shown in dotted lines, in Fig. 2, and in section in Fig. 3, same being mounted on the shaft 4. This cam plate is provided with a cam track or groove 22 having the configuration shown in Figs. 11 and 12, and this groove cooperates with an arm 20- connected to the driving and retarding mechanism 20 through a roller 23 mounted at the end of said arm. The cam track 22 is divided into four sections which correspond to the four movements of the turnstile and because of the engagement of this cam track with the roller 29 on the arm 20 of the device 20-, the movement of the turnstile arm will be positively and continuously controlled during the entire operative movement thereof. Thus, a first manual movement of the arm of the turnstile will cause the roller to move out ofan inward axially-disposed depression 22' along one wall 22 of the grooveor cam track 22. When the groove and roller 20 reach the highest position on the curved wall 22 the arm 20' of the driving and retarding mechanism will start to drive the turnstile and move it for the balance of its operative movement. In case, however, this movement is too rapid, then the arm 26 will engage the opposite wall 22 of the cam track 22 and a retarding action will occur until the roller reaches the next succeeding depression 23. Ob-

.viously, therefore, by an adjusting of the pressure of the door-check member. 20, the movement of the roller 2!] in the cam groove may be controlled and adjusted and consequently the speed. of the movement of the turnstile per se may be fully controlled and adjusted and not only be driven at a desired portion of its movement but may be braked or retarded as it reaches the endof its operative movement.

Suitable means may, if desired, be employed for locking the turnstile against backward movement 50 that it will be movable only in one direction and in the embodiment shown, I have mounted, on the shaft 4, a rachet-Wheel 23' which cooperates with the pawl 24 mounted at 25 on bracket 26 on the wall of the casing or pedestal I.

From the above it will be seen that I have, in a turnstile, ,provided separate and independent mechanism for operating, without the use of springs or the like, countermechanism to produce counting and resetting movement and that this movement is entirely separate from similar springless means actuated and controlled by the insertion of acoin for releasing the turnstile for an operative movement thereof. It is to be understood' that as employed throughout the description and claims hereof the term coin is intended tocomprehend so-callcd tokens or other insertable key devices or elements suitable for performing the desired function.

It will: be. seen also, that I have, instead of the conventional bumper devices which merely brake the device at the end of an operative movement, provided mechanism which is also completely separate and distinct from. either the coin-controlled release mechanism or the counter actuating mechanism and which not only operates as a brake during the latter part. of the operative movement of the turnstile but also assists in driving the turnstile during a part of such operative movement.

The aforesaid. driving and, braking. or retarding mechanism is noiseless and. enables the turnstile to be turnedandstopped without the clatter and clash which is characteristic of large turnstiles in places such as subways and other railroad terminals.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A coin-actuated. turnstile embodying, in combination, a manually rotatable turnstile having arms movable through a pre-determined arcuate movement to obstruct and free a passage-way, locking means for locking the turnstile against rotary movement, a movable release means engageable with said locking means, a coin passage, a coin engaging member, and operating means for moving said coin engaging member to bring the coin into engagement withandtooperate said release means, said operating means embodyinga pivoted rocking member connected with. said. coin engaging member and engageable at opposite sides of the pivot by the turnstile to positively swing the rocking member in opposite directions.

2. A coin-actuated turnstile embodying, in combination, a manually rotatable turnstile having arms movable through a predetermined arcuatemovement to obstruct and free a passageway, locking means for locking the turnstile against rotary movement, a movable release means engageable with. said locking means, a coin. passage, a coin. engaging member, and operating means for moving said coin engaging. member to bring the coin into engagement with and to operate said release means, said operating means embodying a. pivoted rocking member connected with said coin: engaging member and engageable at opposite sides of the pivot by the turnstile to positively swing the rocking memberv in opposite directions, said rocking member having cam surfaces. at opposite sides of its pivot andsaid turnstile having a series of posts corresponding in number with the arms thereof and each of which is engageable upon an operative rotation of the turnstile to contact with said cam surfaces and move the rocking member in opposite directions to shift the. mechanism intov lock releaseposition, and: into. re-set locking. position respectively.

3 A coin-actuated turnstile embodying, in combination, a manually rotatable turnstile having arms movable through a predetermined arouate movement to obstruct and free a passageway, locking means for locking the turnstile against rotary movement and coin-actuated mechanism for releasing said locking means comprising a pivoted rocking member engageable at opposite sides of the pivot by the turnstile to positively swing the rocking member in opposite directions, said rocking member having cam surfaces at opposite sides of its pivot and said turnstile having a series of posts corresponding in number with the arms thereof, each of which is engageable upon an operative rotation of the turnstile to contact with said cam surfaces and move the rocking member in opposite directions, a coin passage, a coin shifting member connected to said rocking member for operation thereby, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends, movable in a vertical plane and being, at one end, provided with means for engaging said locking means and at the other end adapted to be engaged by a coin moved by said shifting member and thereby tilted to release said lock mechanism.

4. A turnstile rotatable through predetermined successive arcuate movements, locking means therefor, a movable lock release means, a passage for the reception of a coin or like actuating element, a movable member for engaging such element and shifting it in contact with and to move said lock release means, a pivoted rocking meme ber connected to said movable member, and means rotatable by the turnstile and adapted to engage said rocking member to swing it positively in one direction and then in the opposite direction and correspondingly to shift said movable member back and forth.

5. A turnstile rotatable through successive arcuate movements, locking means therefor, a pivoted lock release lever, a passage for the reception of a coin or like actuating element, a movable member for engaging such element and shifting it in contact with said lever to rock the latter and release the locking means, a pivoted rocking member connected to said movable member, and means rotatable in timed relation with the turnstile and adapted to engage said rocking member on opposite sides of the pivot'to swing it positively in one direction and then in the opposite direction and correspondingly to shift said movable member.

6. A turnstile rotatable through successive arcuate movements, locking means therefor, a pivoted lock release lever, a passage for the reception of a coin or like actuating element, a movable member adapted to receive such element and to move it under said lever to rock the lever and release said locking means, a discharge passage for such element, said movable member in its further movement being adapted to bring the element into position to pass into said discharge passage, and means connected to said movable member and engageable by devices rotatable with said turnstile to advance said member as aforesaid, and engageable by devices rotatable with said turnstile to retract positively said member to its initial position.

7. A turnstile having a main frame and a head rotatable thereon to successive angular positions in a complete rotation, a series of lock levers pivpted on said head and angularly spaced so that each lever corresponds to a different one of said positions, a fixed stop mounted on said frame successively engageable by said lock levers, a pivotedrelease lever'mounted on said frame with an end located in a position such as to be adjacent the respective levers when in engagement with said stop, a passagefor the reception of a coin or like turnstile actuating element, and mechanism connected to said release lever and operable by movement of said rotatable head acting through said element to rock said lever to release the particular stop lever in engagement with said stop.

SOREN MADSEN. 

